Hero of Darkness

Chapter 910 Old Habits

In a stunning display of power and precision, Atreus forcefully tore Dahaka's entire right arm from his body, causing the latter to emit a heart-wrenching cry of agony. Despite being a 5th stage saint, Dahaka found himself unable to tap into his world energy, leaving his physical defenses significantly weakened. It was as if Atreus effortlessly snapped a fragile tree branch, overpowering Dahaka's defenses with ease.

Unbeknownst to the spectators, this incredible feat was a result of Kahn's utilization of the legendary rank Marauder Emperor skill, an upgraded version of the Marauder King skill.

In one-on-one battles, this skill granted Kahn the ability to bypass his opponent's physical defenses by an astonishing 80%.

During his intensive training under the guidance of Romulus, Kahn's journey to master new fighting skills and combat techniques had been anything but idle.

His unwavering dedication led him to forsake sleep and rest, devoting every waking moment to refining his existing skills and abilities.

As he ascended to the 4th stage saint in the Immortal Dungeon of the Zivot Empire, many of his SSS Rank skills and abilities had evolved into the esteemed Saint Rank, thanks to his tremendous growth in strength.

Through meticulous training and relentless practice, unaided even by his doppelgangers, Kahn reached unprecedented levels of mastery and proficiency in these evolved skills. His unwavering determination and tireless efforts were now bearing fruit on the battlefield, leaving the astonished onlookers in awe of the immense power he wielded.

With the formidable Marauder Emperor skill in his arsenal, even the sturdiest of defenses crumbled before the might of Kahn's onslaught.

What was once an impenetrable steel wall became as fragile as a mere cardboard in the face of his power.

Combining this devastating skill with his other formidable abilities such as Lucid Reality and War Dominance, as well as his already exceptional physical prowess that surpassed that of an ordinary saint, Kahn held absolute dominion over the battlefield.

Dahaka, once a formidable opponent, now found himself reduced to nothing more than a helpless fish on a chopping board, with Kahn wielding the knife of his wrath.

The mismatch in power and skill was glaringly apparent, leaving little doubt as to the outcome of this fateful encounter. The spectators watched in awe and disbelief as Kahn's overwhelming strength and calculated precision dismantled his opponent with ruthless efficiency.

"You... were you... always... this... strong?" asked Dahaka as his arm started healing slowlydue to his innate bloodline of the Godbeast Baihu.

Despite Dahaka's impressive regeneration ability, fueled by his lineage as a true descendant, it paled in comparison to the extraordinary powers acquired by Kahn.

As a bearer of multiple Godbeast bloodlines and the inheritor of Cthulhu's abilities, coupled with his direct descent from the Primordial Titans, Kahn possessed an unmatched level of prowess and resilience.

While Dahaka's severed arm would regenerate over time, the overwhelming might of Kahn's attacks continued to relentlessly assault him, hindering his recovery and further weakening his defenses.

The power gap between the two combatants remained insurmountable, and it seemed that even Dahaka's exceptional regenerative abilities would ultimately prove insufficient to withstand the onslaught of Kahn's formidable skills and prowess.

The spectators watched in both awe and dread as the battle unfolded, witnessing the clash between an unparalleled warrior and a descendant of legends. It was a testament to the unyielding strength and indomitable spirit of Atreus, whose strenth and mercilessness was showcased in front of them for the first time.

"The warrior who offers deception of being weak to the enemy is the one who will find the quickest opportunity to defeat them." spoke Atreus in a grim tone.

"That is what my Master taught me. If not for his teachings, I wouldn't have been holding myself back.

And if I didn't hold myself back... Not a single one of the people I faced in this tourney would be alive right now." his domineering voice echoed.

In their respective pavilions, Gaja Ekdantay, Harambe Kong, Hoo Basan, and Sobek Slythrin, the defeated opponents of Atreus, were struck with a profound sense of unease.

The revelation that Atreus had never unleashed his full strength against them sent a shiver down their spines. They realized, with a mixture of awe and dread, that they owed their lives to the mercy of a warrior whose power surpassed their own.

As they watched the ongoing battle between Atreus and Dahaka, the true extent of Atreus' might became evident.

Even Dahaka, the strongest among them, struggled to withstand the relentless onslaught. The realization dawned upon the defeated opponents that their previous matches had been mere glimpses into the immense power that Atreus possessed.

In that moment, a mixture of gratitude and fear washed over them. They were alive because Atreus had chosen to spare them, withholding the full force of his abilities.

Yet, witnessing the overwhelming display of power against Dahaka, they couldn't help but wonder how different their fates would have been if Atreus had unleashed his true strength during their encounters.

The gravity of the situation settled upon them as they realized that their defeats were not due to their own ignorance but rather Atreus' mercy.

"Now then... What should we go with next?" an insidious smirk formed on the blue wolfkin's face.

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1 Hour Later...

The entire Nadur Empire was dead silent, whether it was people watching the match on holographic screens across the empire or the people in the arena. All of them had a terrified countenance as the display of absolute and horrifying brutality had shaken their souls.

First, it was the right arm... but then, Atreus showed a vicious side of him and ripped off Dahaka's left leg before his arm even regenerated halfway.

Then he used his claws to cut the pantherkin's ears. Soon, he pulled out the paralyzed enemy's tail and made Dahaka swallow it in front of the whole empire.

One after another, he plucked off Dahaka's fingers, the arm and then slashed his stomach.

As the true descendant's guts were put on a display... the inhabitants the Beast Emipire who had seen many brutal sights of brutality over the past 7 centuries in the Tribal Tourney as part of their tradition, felt a shiver in their spines.

Due to Dahaka's innate regeneration capabilities, he wasn't dying as Atreus gave him enough time to recover, but then would find a new way to physically torture and psychologically humiliate his enemy.

Majority of people lost their will to watch the match when Atreus made Dahaka eat his own liver while the latter wriggled in mortifying pain from having his innards pulled out by the blue wolfkin.

The battle had stopped long ago and by now, Atreus should've been declared the winner.

But since the results would only be declared after one them died, Kahn took his sweet time in reveling his old habits when it came to torturing his enemies.

He used that loophole in rules to not only crush Dahaka physically, but also broke his spirit as a warrior by meting out a humiliation that would make any person want to kill themself.

"This is too cruel! How is this even allowed to happen?!" shouted the Heavenly King of Metal, barely holding his fury after watching his own son, the one he was most proud of and saw him succeeding as a Heavenly King in future, experiencing the greatest shame any prideful warrior has went through in the history of the Beast Empire.

"Stop the match!" he bellowed in indescribable rage.

But right then, an intense and insurmountable pressure was exerted on everyone in the arena.

"Atreus has not broken any rules. This is not the first time in our cultural history that a warrior has tortured his enemy during a deathmatch.

"The only thing that distinguishes the present from the past..." spoke the Empress in an unforgiving tone, "Is that none of them ever went to such extreme lengths."

Deep within, she couldn't help but find a certain satisfaction in such a grand display, acknowledging Atreus's immense creativity in incorporating the ears, tail, and fur—the most cherished aspects of their physical beings among the majority of beastkin races.

By now, Atreus had managed to incur the wrath of nearly 80% of the Beast Empire through his audacious actions.

However, the Empress perceived this as an opportunity to further her own ulterior motives, subtly intertwining her agenda with the unfolding chaos.

"It is time, to decide your end. So tell me, do you accept defeat?" asked Atreus in a jarring voice.

Dahaka only nodded in fear while enduring his unimaginable pain.

SWOOM!!

Both combatants were summoned back to the arena, their presence required even after Dahaka had reluctantly admitted defeat.

However the ancient laws of the Beast Empire dictated that the match was far from over.

"What becomes of you..." Atreus's voice resonated with sinister undertones...

"Shall not be determined by me alone.

The arbiter of your life or death shall be..." with a dramatic flourish, Atreus unveiled the entire assembly of the Nadur Empire, the very beings who would hold Dahaka's fate in their hands.

"My Master."